A quick 45-year history of Eat Bulaga

The Philippines' longest-running variety TV show, Eat Bulaga, is officially 45 years old today. For four-and-a-half decades, the longest-running noontime variety TV show in Philippine history, Eat Bulaga, has become the staple of every Filipino household with its rousing and engrossing segments with engaging hosts, including the so-called Holy Trinity of Eat Bulaga; Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, and Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III.

In honor of the show's 45th anniversary, it's time for a quick history lesson about the Philippines' longest-running variety TV show.

TVJ and the Dabarkads
Moving Forward to TV5
Image: TV5

Eat Bulaga first aired on July 30th, 1979, with Broadcast City as their first home studio with RPN-9 (now RPTV) as their home network. Then, they moved to the Celebrity Sports Plaza in 1987 until they switched to ABS-CBN's Studio 1 (now Dolphy Theater) in 1989. The show re-used the Celebrity Sports Plaza in 1994 to say farewell to ABS-CBN as they moved to GMA-7 and their fourth home studio of the show, Broadway Centrum, in 1995. 

After 23 years of delivering rousing and engrossing segments in the heart of Broadway Centrum, not to mention spawning an Indonesian version of the said show, the country's longest-running noontime show has moved to its fifth home location, the APT Studios, marking a brand new beginning in Eat Bulaga's four-decade history.

The TVJ and the Dabarkads enjoyed the spoils of the success of their show for over four decades until the Dark Age of Eat Bulaga came. No, it's not because of the COVID pandemic, it's because of the Jalosjos family in charge of TAPE that spurred a feud between TVJ and TAPE, Inc. That feud between them because of the show's proposed changes prompted the TVJ trio to leave TAPE for good at the end of May 2023 along with the other Dabarkads. Their farewell speech wasn't televised and instead streamed on the official Eat Bulaga Facebook page.

Come June 5, 2023, nearly a week after TVJ and the Dabarkads left Eat Bulaga, the noontime show welcomed the new batch of hosts consisting of Paolo Contis, Buboy Villar, Betong Sumaya, Cassy and Mavy Legaspi, and Alexa Miro. The new batch of EB hosts was later expanded with former Manila city mayor Isko Moreno and Kimpoy Feliciano. Their welcoming arrival in Eat Bulaga is mired with criticisms with some saying this is not the Eat Bulaga Filipinos loved.

Moments later, the TVJ and their Dabarkads pals got themselves a new home; TV5. The problem is, that they're still figuring out what will the name of their TV5 show will be due to a legal battle over who has the right to use the Eat Bulaga title, between the TVJ trio and TAPE. They did say they would say the title on July 1st, adding days of speculation for the observers who follow the ongoing Eat Bulaga war that caused a seismic shift in Philippine noontime viewing.

Then, on that fateful day of July 1, 2023, the same day IT'S SHOWTIME made its GTV simulcast debut, it's the comeback of TVJ and the Dabarkads in their new home channel, TV5. From an emotional welcome to the climax of their world premiere, they've unveiled the official name of their new noontime show, It's titled EAT... That's it, they called the show EAT..., but the TVJ trio said this title is temporary because they're still in a legal battle over the Eat Bulaga trademark.

The 5th of January, 2024 saw the TVJ trio of Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey De Leon, win the copyright infringement and unfair competition cases against TAPE, Inc. and TV network GMA over the rights of the Eat Bulaga! trademark, meaning neither TAPE nor GMA Network has the right to use the Eat Bulaga or EB trademark.

As a result of the ruling, the January 6, 2024 episodes of both noontime shows saw drastic changes. The old Eat Bulaga! that Filipinos know, under the thumb of TAPE Inc., has been rebranded as "Tahanang Pinakamasaya!" while the TV5 EAT... variety show has been renamed as "EAT...BULAGA!", a seismic shift in Philippine television nearly four-and-a-half decades in the making.

Two months later, after nearly two decades on the air since moving to GMA-7, TAPE Inc.'s variety show formerly known as Eat Bulaga, renamed Tahanang Pinakamasaya, has officially ended its broadcast run. The presenters of Tahanang Pinakamasaya bid their final farewell to the viewers and audiences last Saturday, March 2, 2024, before TAPE pulled the plug on its official livestream, raising speculations that this is the end of the era. It really is.

As a result, the episodes aired on the final broadcast week were usually reruns of select episodes. A week after Tahanang Pinakamasaya was axed, GMA temporarily aired movies to fill the void left by the show's closure until IT'S SHOWTIME made its GMA-7 simulcast debut beginning April 6th.

The rest is history. Long story short but you get the point.

45 years, four TV networks, six venues, one Eat Bulaga. Over the years, Eat Bulaga has featured countless celebrity guests, musical performances, and comedy sketches. It has also been a platform for social commentary and advocacy. The show has won numerous awards.

Eat Bulaga is more than just a TV show. It's a cultural phenomenon that has touched the lives of generations of Filipinos. Happy 45th anniversary, Eat Bulaga!

Meralco wins its first PBA Philippine Cup title

The Meralco Bolts have been fighting for the title for 14 years and finally advanced to the PBA Philippine Cup finals, where they faced their biggest hurdle; the legendary San Miguel Beermen team.

The Beermen have won 29 PBA titles and have a veteran team, making them a formidable opponent for any team. The Bolts are also a great team, but they have never won the championship. But the Bolts are looking to change that this year, and if they can beat the Beermen, they will have a great chance of winning the title.

The first game saw Meralco draw first blood by beating San Miguel at the score of 93-86, followed by Game 2 where SMB beat Meralco by a point, 95-94. The two sides trade punches until Game 5, where Meralco's third win of their best-of-7 match against San Miguel puts them on the brink of their first title.

Game 6 was held in front of a massive crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, and the atmosphere was electric. The game was close throughout, but the Meralco Bolts made a few key stops down the stretch and held on for the win. In the end, the Bolts won Game 6 80-78 and clinched their first PBA Philippine Cup championship in team history.

Chris Newsome is named Best Player at the score of 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Photo: Philippine Basketball Association

Congratulations to the Meralco Bolts for finally winning the PBA Philippine Cup after 14 years of fighting for the title. It was a close one, going against the legendary San Miguel Beermen, who are tied with Ginebra for most titles won. I’m especially happy for Chris Newsome, who was named Best Player of the Game. Cheers to the Bolts for a great season and an even better finish!

TAPE's Tahanang Pinakamasaya, the old Eat Bulaga, ends broadcast

After nearly two decades on the air since moving to GMA-7, TAPE Inc's variety show formerly known as Eat Bulaga, renamed Tahanang Pinakamasaya, has officially ended its broadcast run.

TAPE's Eat Bulaga rebranded as Tahanang Pinakamasaya!
while TV5's E.A.T. is now EAT...BULAGA!

The recent episode is basically a re-run of past episodes but TAPE and GMA released statements regarding the noontime show's closure. 

On TAPE's side:

It is with a heavy heart that we inform our televiewers that our noontime show ‘Tahanang Pinakamasaya’ on Kapuso network, GMA-7, will no longer be on air effective March 8, 2024.

TAPE, Inc. extends its profound gratitude to its home network, GMA-7, for a long and fruitful partnership. GMA 7’s kind consideration and understanding of the company’s unwanted circumstances have been instrumental in helping the company in this transition. Despite our best efforts to save the show, both parties have reached a mutual agreement to finally call off the show.

To the loyal viewers, esteemed hosts, supportive advertisers, hardworking crew and dedicated employees who have been with us from the beginning - from the longest running noontime show ‘Eat Bulaga’ to the present ‘Tahanang Pinakamasaya’ - our sincerest ‘Thank you!’ and optimistic ‘See you again!’

On GMA-7's side:

 Due to unavoidable circumstances, TAPE has made the difficult decision to cease the airing of 'Tahanang Pinakamasaya.'

GMA Network would like to thank TAPE for its invaluable contribution to noontime programming for the past decades, which Filipinos will surely remember for many years to come.

Maraming salamat, Kapuso.

The presenters of Tahanang Pinakamasaya bid their final farewell to the viewers and audiences last Saturday, March 2, 2024, before TAPE pulled the plug on its official live stream, raising speculations that this is the end of the era. It really is.

As a result, the episodes aired on the final broadcast week were usually reruns of select episodes. Not much is known about what show will take over its now-vacant noontime slot dominated by ABS-CBN's IT'S SHOWTIME and TV5's EAT BULAGA with the TVJ and the Dabarkads. Some say GMA-7 will air just movies on the said timeslot for the time being.

How did it all lead to this?

The Eat Bulaga that Filipinos know first aired at the end of July 1979, Broadcast City was their first home studio with RPN-9 (now RPTV) as their home network. Then, they moved to the Celebrity Sports Plaza in 1987 until they switched to ABS-CBN's Studio 1 (now Dolphy Theater) in 1989. The show re-used the Celebrity Sports Plaza in 1994 to say farewell to ABS-CBN as they moved to GMA-7 and their fourth home studio of the show, Broadway Centrum, in 1995. 

After 23 years of delivering rousing and engrossing segments in the heart of Broadway Centrum, the country's longest-running noontime show has moved to its new location, the APT Studios, marking a brand new beginning in Eat Bulaga's four-decade history.

The TVJ and the Dabarkads enjoyed the spoils of the success of their show for over four decades until the Dark Age of Eat Bulaga came. No, it's not because of the COVID pandemic, it's because of the Jalosjos family in charge of TAPE that spurred a feud between TVJ and TAPE, Inc. That feud between them because of the show's proposed changes prompted the TVJ trio to leave TAPE for good at the end of May 2023 along with the other Dabarkads. Their farewell speech wasn't televised and instead streamed on the official Eat Bulaga Facebook page.

Moments later, the TVJ and their Dabarkads pals got themselves a new home; TV5. The problem is, that they're still figuring out what will the name of their TV5 show will be due to a legal battle over who has the right to use the Eat Bulaga title, between the TVJ trio and TAPE. They did say they would say the title on July 1st, adding days of speculation for the observers who follow the ongoing Eat Bulaga war that caused a seismic shift in Philippine noontime viewing.

Then, on that fateful day of July 1, 2023, the same day IT'S SHOWTIME made its GTV simulcast debut, it's the comeback of TVJ and the Dabarkads in their new home channel, TV5. From an emotional welcome to the climax of their world premiere, they've unveiled the official name of their new noontime show, It's titled EAT... That's it, they called the show EAT..., but the TVJ trio said this title is temporary because they're still in a legal battle over the Eat Bulaga trademark.

The 5th of January, 2024 saw the TVJ trio of Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey De Leon, win the copyright infringement and unfair competition cases against TAPE, Inc. and TV network GMA over the rights of the Eat Bulaga! trademark, meaning neither TAPE nor GMA Network has the right to use the Eat Bulaga or EB trademark.

As a result of the ruling, the January 6, 2024 episodes of both noontime shows saw drastic changes. The old Eat Bulaga! that Filipinos know, under the thumb of TAPE Inc., has been rebranded as "Tahanang Pinakamasaya!" while the TV5 EAT... variety show has been renamed as "EAT...BULAGA!", a seismic shift in Philippine television nearly four-and-a-half decades in the making.

Long story short but you get the idea. The Eat Bulaga of yesteryears is dead and gone for real.

Thanks for the memories, OLD EAT BULAGA. You fought well until the very end.

PLDT-SKY Acquisition Deal called off

SKY Cable subscribers who are experiencing sleepless nights over the imminent closure can rest easily because news recently broke out that ABS-CBN and PLDT have jointly decided to call off the PLDT-SKY acquisition deal.

SKY CABLE

In a statement released by SKY Cable. the ABS-CBN Corporation and PLDT have jointly decided not to proceed with the sale of SKY to PLDT under the Sale and Purchase Agreement signed by both parties in March of last year.

As a result of calling off the controversial acquisition deal, SKY Cable operations will continue beyond the February 26 deadline, assuring its subscribers that they can maintain their subscriptions while its broadband internet service, SKY Fiber, remains intact.

Thank the TV gods for keeping solid SKY Cable subscribers safe as well as the employees who worked hard to bring "The Biggest Show On Air" to the masses.

Leopaul's Heaven and Hell: Thank you, SKY CABLE

The Philippines' number one cable provider in ages, SKY Cable, is now in its death throes, and all channels, especially optional ones, become available for viewing until the February 26 deadline. 

I know this is sad news for those loyal to SKY Cable since 1992 and now that the sun sets on our ever-favorite cable provider, now would be the ideal time to be thankful for what SKY Cable has done for us.

SKY CABLE

When Filipinos like us welcome SKY Cable to our homes since dawn, we are greeted with the biggest entertainment feast our ordinary TV viewing can't. We got hooked on non-stop movie experiences from HBO, Cinemax, and Star Movies, kid-friendly entertainment from Cartoon Network, Nick, and Disney, international news from BBC, CNN, and Bloomberg, adventurous moments from Discovery and National Geographic, non-stop music from MTV, MYX, and Channel V, and massive Filipino content from Cinema One, Viva Cinema, and PBO. 

Apart from the commonly enjoyed ones mentioned above, we enjoyed some home shopping in its dedicated SKY Mall channel, checking flight schedules, and of course, VID-OK! Does anyone remember VID-OK, the 24-hour videoke channel? Of course, you are. You have been solid SKY Cable subscribers since the day you became one.

There are too many megatons of information and entertainment to list but...you get the point. SKY Cable is the king of cable providers in the Philippines until that fateful moment...

Of course, there are plenty of cable providers that can't match SKY Cable's magnitude, until one major competitor came along...Cignal. The two Philippine cable giants fought ferociously and with the number of channels dwindling and replaced by ones no one heard of, the Pinoy cable wars had its tables turned.

When the COVID pandemic struck the globe, it seemed the days of SKY Cable's becoming numbered following the ABS-CBN shutdown. Of course, both SKY Cable and ABS-CBN are part of the Lopez Holdings portfolio, which explains the reason we got channels exclusive to SKY Cable such as Lifestyle Network (now Metro Channel), Cinema One, Teleradyo, ABS-CBN News Channel, and (I'm sure you remembered it) HERO. With the 2020 shutdown of ABS-CBN and the weakening grip of Lopez Holdings, it didn't take long until PLDT began acquiring SKY from the Lopezes.

Because of the highly-anticipated closing conditions of the PLDT-SKY acquisition deal, SKY will begin its transition into a dedicated service provider, meaning SKY Cable will cease operations effective February 27, 2024. The final broadcast and sign-off will be on February 26, 2024, at 2359 Hours Philippine Time.

It's absolutely sad to see SKY Cable vanish into thin air following the PLDT-SKY acquisition deal but we had some fond memories of becoming solid SKY Cable subscribers and the huge impact SKY Cable had on everyday Filipino lives. Many cable providers in the Philippines have tried to match it but SKY Cable always came out on top until the very end. It really is the OG of the Philippine cable business and our TV-viewing lives would be different if this didn't pop up at the start.

Movies, cartoons, animes, concerts, action, drama, horror, comedy, variety, home shopping, I guess it's true that real fandoms came from TV screens but hey, it's the power of cable TV that introduced us to fandoms known the world over and SKY Cable should be held responsible for this wonderful opportunity.

As SKY Cable nears its demise, the competition is going to pick up where it left off, especially Cignal. Still, it was one helluva rollercoaster ride over three decades in the making. I guess the #walangforever trend is true as it says, even for SKY Cable.

Anyway, it hurts saying this but...Thank you, SKY CABLE...

...and you're welcome.

Rea Gen Villareal wins IT'S SHOWTIME's TNT Year 7

The grand finals of IT'S SHOWTIME's Tawag Ng Tanghalan Year 7 saw a three-way fight between Rea Gen Villareal, Vensor Domasig, and Eunice Encarnada. The fight to determine this season's champion.

Image: ABS-CBN Studios

With a score of 97.4, Rea Gen Villareal from Caloocan City blew the competition to become TNT Year 7 grand champion. She will receive a talent management contract with Star Magic's Polaris, a contract with ABS-CBN Music, and one million pesos.

Rea joins the ranks of past TNT champions from Noven Belleza to last year's Lyka Estrella.

Congratulations to Rea Gen Villareal for becoming the seventh Tawag Ng Tanghalan grand champion!

Leopaul's Heaven and Hell: The Eat Bulaga of yesteryears is dead and gone!

The first week of 2024 is met with spiraling results but there's one piece of news that rocked Philippine television, a seismic shift nearly four-and-a-half decades in the making.

Friday, the fifth of January, 2024, saw the TVJ trio of Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey De Leon, win the copyright infringement and unfair competition cases against TAPE, Inc. and TV network GMA over the rights of the Eat Bulaga! trademark, meaning neither TAPE nor GMA Network has the right to use the Eat Bulaga or EB trademark.

TAPE's Eat Bulaga rebranded as Tahanang Pinakamasaya!
while TV5's E.A.T. is now EAT...BULAGA!

As a result of the ruling, the January 6, 2024 episodes of both noontime shows saw drastic changes. The old Eat Bulaga! that Filipinos know, under the thumb of TAPE Inc., has been rebranded as "Tahanang Pinakamasaya!" while the TV5 EAT... variety show has been renamed as "EAT...BULAGA!", a seismic shift in Philippine television nearly four-and-a-half decades in the making.

Purist Dabarkads around the globe welcomed the biggest news in Eat Bulaga history, pleasing the move as "justice" for all the fans who became part of the TVJ experience since the end of July 1979, and to celebrate Eat Bulaga's return to TVJ, they've started its simulcast airing on CNN Philippines for Saturday episodes. Of course, CNN Philippines used to be RPN-9 and RPN-9 is the first channel where Eat Bulaga first aired in 1979 so it's like a homecoming for TVJ.

Those loyal to the Dabarkads' code of honor knew it was right, bringing the EB naming back to where they truly belonged; the legendary trio who came up with the concept, not the company who calls the shots.

The war that started last year with the feud between TVJ and TAPE has finally found the endgame it truly deserved. I have to say, I'm very pleased that the Philippines' favorite TV trio fought hard to claim what's theirs and won, proving that the fight for redemption is a long and bumpy road ahead. It's arduous but hey, at least we now know the answer.

For the first time in nearly 45 years, Filipinos never experienced such a radical change in EB history. The "old" Eat Bulaga, the one under TAPE control, is now dead and gone while the "new" Eat Bulaga, the EAT one aired on TV5 with the trio that gave birth to the brand, is now using the brand that truly belongs. In other words, the "old" Eat Bulaga on GMA-7 is now "Tahanang Pinakamasaya!" and the EAT TV5 show is now called "EAT...BULAGA!"

The next time someone asks what happened to Eat Bulaga, this is the answer. Need to say it again? Tahanang Pinakamasaya is how TAPE killed Eat Bulaga and the TV5 EAT show is Eat Bulaga, born again as the "new" Eat Bulaga. 

If it is July 30, 2024, the day Eat Bulaga celebrates its 45th birthday, you know which show will celebrate. It's the TVJ one, not the TAPE one. TAPE killed Eat Bulaga and TVJ brought Eat Bulaga back. Remember that.

What to see at the 2023 MMFF?

It's Christmas break again, which means, no school until the start of the new year. Hooray. As everybody's going out for the long weekend, and traveling places, there's only one thing that needs to be on every vacation playlist; watching movies from the 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival.

2023 Metro Manila Film Festival entries

So, what movies are showing in Philippine cinemas during the 2023 MMFF?

- Family of Two (A Mother and Son's Story) - This family-focused drama stars Sharon Cuneta and Alden Richards. It was directed by Nuel Naval. This movie sees Richards playing the role of Mateo, a young man moving to Singapore to pursue his ambitions, only for his mother Maricar (played by Cuneta) to learn his true intentions the hard way.

- (K)AMPON - A horror movie that stars Beauty Gonzalez and Derek Ramsay. In this movie, a couple adopted a little girl, only to learn her terrifying secret that could spell doom for them.

- Penduko - Matteo Guidicelli steps into the role of Pedro Penduko in the newest version of the iconic comic book character. Recruited by a shadowy group known as Hatinggabi, the young Pedro Penduko's destiny reveals more as he progresses through his battle against the forces of evil.

- REWIND - Showbiz couple Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes star in this romantic drama crafted by ABS-CBN FILM PRODUCTIONS and directed by Mae Cruz-Alviar. Dantes plays the role of a man who witnessed his wife's death in a car accident. He was given a second chance to live with her just one more moment, but with a twist; he had to die in place of his wife.

- Mallari - It's another horror movie that slips into the list of MMFF 2023 entries. It stars Piolo Pascual, Gloria Diaz, JC Santos, Elisse Joson, Janella Salvador, and Mylen Dizon.

- Firefly - GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs' first MMFF entry, an adventure movie, stars Alessandra de Rossi, Euwenn Mikaell, Yayo Aguila, Cherry Pie Picache, Miguel Tanfelix, Ysabel Ortega, Max Collins, Epy Quizon, and Dingdong Dantes.

- GomBurZa - Dante Rivero, Cedric Juan, Enchong Dee, and Piolo Pascual star in the untold story of the three Filipino priests involved in the country's revolutionary war against the Spaniards. Provided by Jesuit Communications and Saranggola Productions, this movie is directed by Pepe Diokno.

- Broken Hearts' Trip - Starring Chrisitan Bables, this light-hearted comedy-drama is packed with colorful gay characters facing heartbreaks setting off on their healing trip.

- Becky & Badette - Comedy legends Eugene Domingo and Pokwang are crashing the school reunion in this hilarious comedy movie directed by Jun Robles Lana. 

- When I Met You In Tokyo - Starring Vilma Santos and Christopher De Leon, this romantic drama is about two ordinary people who find love in The Land of The Rising Sun.

The 2023 Metro Manila Film Festival starts this Christmas Day, December 25, and this is the only time of the week when all ten films will show in all cinemas during the duration. Which film will you watch?

Shake Rattle & Roll EXTREME

Regal Films' Shake Rattle and Roll series has finally returned and this time, fear is set to the EXTREME in the most terrifying installment ever made.

Shake Rattle & Roll EXTREME

Shake Rattle & Roll EXTREME marks the return of the most terrifying horror anthology franchise from Regal Films and nobody's safe from the most extreme installment ever made.

Featuring a powerhouse cast of celebs such as Darna's Jane De Leon, Jane Oineza, RK Bagatsing, Paolo Gumabao, Ninong Ry, Rob Gomez, Phi Palmos, Miggs Cuaderno, Sarah Edwards, Mika Reins, Distin Yu, Jana Tadro, Ian Gimena, and others, the most extreme installment of the Shake Rattle & Roll series features three horrifying chapters that will leave them horrified until the end. A Christmas demon strikes in GLITCH, a bloody feast worthy of becoming viral in MUKBANG, and survivors battling against the afflicted in RAGE.

Packed with blood, gore, drama, and an endless barrage of terror, yes, almost no one will survive the most EXTREME Shake Rattle & Roll installment ever made because such themes will leave the unprepared ones surrendered and only the toughest ones will be left out watching all three chapters from the start to the very end. This movie will throw everything it has, making it the ultimate madhouse of horrors reserved for the bravest and toughest moviegoers willing to survive this fear fest.

This is no doubt the most terrifying movie ever to come out in the Yuletide season and the EXTREME setting is a torturous punishment moviegoers will never forget. 

Are you up to the EXTREME?

#WowMaliDobleTama - October 21, 2023

 In the October 21, 2023 episode of Wow Mali Doble Tama...

- Nikko Natividad is this episode's CommanDuo prank star

- Silly Questions with Kikay Matsing

- SHOCKS NAMAN!

- Gotcha by Wally Wow in...Please Press Prank

- Josenyoritas in...Marites and Marisol

- WOW IKAW NA! 

#WowMaliDobleTama - October 14, 2023

In the October 14, 2023 episode of Wow Mali Doble Tama...

- Gotcha by Wally Wow in...Pedestrian Race

- Mali-kin

- Silly Questions with Kikay Matsing

- MJ Lastimosa is this episode's CommanDuo prank star

- Josenyoritas in...Patapong Pag-Ibig

- WOW IKAW NA!